Gay Man With Porn Ties Elected In Missouri

By

On Top Magazine Staff

|
August 06, 2008

Openly gay Democrat Mike Colona won the
Missouri State Democratic primary for St. Louis Tuesday night. With
no Republican opponent to face in the fall he will head straight to
the state House. Early charges of ties with the adult industry
marred his campaign.

Colona will join openly gay Rep.
Jeanette Mott Oxford (D-59) and Sen. Jolie Justus (D-10) at the state
capitol in growing the GLBT Caucus to three.

The Victory Fund-endorsed candidate
spoke about his sexuality in a The Vital Voice interview,
“I think it's our obligation as out individuals to approach people
and break down stereotypes. And even though I'm running as a gay
man, it's just a part of the campaign... I would like the opportunity
to go down to Jeff City and show some of the conservative Democrats
that being an out, open gay man is perhaps something different than
what the stereotype is that they know,” said Mike Colona.

Colona's campaign emphasized his work
as a lawyer in private practice, saying he would bring a unique
perspective to the health care debate.

Ironically, it was his law practice
that nearly pulled his campaign apart. When a porn producer
contributed to his campaign, Colona admitted to advising him. His
role, he said, was limited to ensuring no minors were used in any
porn production.

Some voters felt Colona must have been
hiding something when several adult websites removed his name as the
holder of records. “Resource for parents, so that's the spin? He
works with these companies as a social service? That is a pathetic
justification for a whore for hire!!!” wrote an anonymous commenter
who listed fifteen websites with Colona's name as evidence of his
participation in the industry.

Colona, however, continued to win
endorsements – including the State Police Association and St. Louis
Police Officers Association – and ultimately the Democratic
primary.